A life on the ocean waves
After a slightly delayed start due to weather disruptions with the ferries, the Tiree Wave Classic windsurfing event kicked off on Sunday October 14 for the 32nd year.
Day one saw light and variable winds, unsuitable for competition but still enough for the young professionals to show off some impressive wave skills. With 86 competitors registered, Tiree Wave Classic is bigger and better than ever with 21 per cent higher attendance than the previous year in October 2017 which had 71 entrants.
This year’s event as such is the largest entry list in the competition’s 32-year history and the largest attendance at any British Wavesailing Association event since the governing body was founded.
Participants travel from around the globe to attend the Tireebased competition in what is now the longest running professional windsurfing event on the planet and Argyll and Bute’s primary (if not only) international sports event.
‘All we need now are wind and waves,’ stated William MacLean, the event organiser. ‘Tuesday’s forecast currently looks good with strong winds and reasonable waves which should see a great day of competition.’
The event will end a day early this year on Thursday October 18 due to a lack of CalMac ferry capacity. Tiree seems to get a bit busier every year and it would appear that the success of the event, and its growth, run hand in hand with Tiree’s popularity as a visitor destination in October each year.